Ankle-brace



No. 607,243. I Patented July l2, I898. w. c. HUFF.

ANKLE BRACE. (Application fild Aug. 31, 1897.)

(No Model.)

LD ZIDfQP Rms PETERS co. FNUTO-LITN-,. WASHINGTON. a c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

WILLIA o. HUFF, on ST. PAUL, ARKANSAS.

AN KLE-BRAC E.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 607,243, dated July 12, 1898.

Application filed August 31, 1897- Berial No. 650,182. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM'O. HUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Madison and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Ankle-Brace, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to ankle braces or supports designed to be applied to the outside of the boot or shoe of the wearer to support the ankle against sidewise movement and strengthen the same, especially when the wearer is skating.

It is well known that in the use of roller or blade skates the ankle is subjected to an unusual strain; and the object of my invention is to provide means whereby injury from such strain may be prevented and a firm support for the ankle-joint provided.

With this object in view the invention consists of the several details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure-1 is a perspective view of my improved anklebrace in position on a shoe. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the brace detached. Fig. 3 is an edge view. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line X X of Fig. 2.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The brace comprises, essentially, a strip of spring sheet-steel or other suitable spring metal bent to form a hook adapted to fit over the sole of the shoe below the instep, just in advance of the heel. The long arm 2 of the brace is designed to extend up on the outer face of the inner side of the shoe and the short arm on the outer face of the shoe, and the connecting-bar will engage the lower face of the sole of the shoe with its rear edge in close proximity to the heel.

As shown in the drawings, the upper portion of the short arm 3 curves inwardly and then outwardly, as indicated at 5, and it is also extended laterally toward the heel of the shoe, as indicated at 6, and this upper portion bears firmly against the shoe and foot of the wearer just below the ankle=bonet The lower portion of the arm 2 is shaped similarly to the arm 3, but the outward curvature is continued upwardly and then again inwardly, as indicated at 7, and the upper portion 8 of this arm is substantially straight when viewed edgewise. Preferably this upper portion will be slightly curved in crosssection to conform to the curvature of the leg of the wearer. The extreme outward curvature of the long arm of the brace, as indioated at 7, is opposite the inner ankle-joint, and the arm at this point is pressed outwardly to form a concavity 9, which is padded, as indicated at 10, and is adapted to receive the ankle -bone. The pad will prevent severe pressure on the bone, and the brace will therefore not be inconvenient to the wearer. The straight upper portion of the arm 2 is provided with a series of parallel elongated slots 11, in which a broad strap is supported, and

this strap is adapted to be secured around the leg of the wearer and hold the long arm of the brace firmly against the leg. Preferably the long arm will extend to the top of an ordinary shoe, and the strap will therefore be in actual contact with the up er of the shoe.

13 indicates a cover of leather, rawhide, or other suitable material, which is secured upon the {long arm 2 below the strap to prevent chafing the shoe and also to hold the pad 10 in place in the concavity.

The hook portion of the brace will be slipped over the sole of the shoe, and the short arm and the lower portion of the long arm will engage the lower part of the shoe with sufficient pressure to firmly hold the lower part of the brace in position, and the long arm will be secured at its upper end to the leg of the wearer by means of the strap 12, and the long arm will thus afiord a stiif brace for the inner ankle-joint and prevent the foot of the wearer from turning sidewise. At the same time the padded concavity, which will fit over the ankle-bone, will not cause any pain or inconvenience to the wearer and the brace will not in any wise interfere with the free movement of the foot vertically from heel to toe.

It is of course to be understood that these braces will be made in pairs and be right and left handed, and that the long arm always will extend up on the inside of the foot.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is-- An ankle-brace formed of a single strip of spring metal formed into a hook at its lower end to pass beneath and embrace the sides of the foot and secure the lower end of the brace thereto, and having the intermediate portion expanded or widened and pressed into a concavo-convex form to receive the ankle-joint, a padding applied to the hollow side of the brace to prevent injurious pressure upon the ankle-joint, and a transverselydisposed strap having loose connection with the upper end of the brace and serving as means to secure it to the'foot above the anklejoint, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. 

